The ad (click to enlarge)

Here's an innovation in reproductive tourism: Bring first world eggs, kept fresh inside the ovaries of smart and pretty American college students, to third world wombs, rented on the cheap from poor Indian women who are sure not to make trouble during or after their surrogate pregnancies.

The classified ad shown here, which appeared this February in the Duke University campus newspaper, was placed by a Florida-based fertility firm called Proactive Family Solutions. Its website sells Indian surrogates as a sensible option for prospective parents:

Perhaps more important than the lower cost of surrogacy in India, is the fact that an Indian surrogate is far less likely to attempt to claim parental rights over the child, and the pregnancy will be closely monitored to make sure that the surrogate lives a healthy lifestyle during her pregnancy.

Its pitch to egg providers:

Proactive Family Solutions program is unique. In addition to monetary compensation, we give our donors a free trip to India where the egg retrieval takes place….The medical appointments won't take much time, which means your two weeks in India will be largely a vacation for you. You will have significant time to explore and absorb a fascinating culture as well as shop, tour and enjoy the nightlife.

Americans aren't the only ones taking advantage of pregnancy outsourcing. According to a recent article in the London Evening Standard, a Mumbai obstetrician "delivers on average one baby to a British couple every 48 hours." The story recounts the joy of "one London couple who have taken advantage of India's `baby factories'" to have twins via surrogacy.

Previously on Biopolitical Times:

• More media coverage of surrogacy outsourcing
• Oprah on Renting Wombs in India: “It’s beautiful”

Thanks for pointing us to the Duke University newspaper ad go to Kari Points, MPP, a global health policy analyst who researches cross-border reproductive services. Her recent work is a multi-country analysis of legislative strategies to protect the health and human rights of surrogates. For more information, contact her at kari.points@gmail.com.

Comments

1. Comment by doudou, Jul 9th, 2009 8:06pm

   Can CGS place classified ads in campus newspapers, directing students to websites such as yours that properly inform them about these so-called 'opportunities'?
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2. Comment by Joan Higgs, Jul 2nd, 2009 12:04pm

   These practices are hideous.
   
   Are there organizations in India trying to stop it?
   
   Can CGS place classified ads in campus newspapers, directing students to websites such as yours that properly inform them about these so-called 'opportunities'?